Which Clan?

[SouthernCelt]

As I was taught,

A Child inherits the Clan identity of its Father at birth. If the child is female, and marries within the Highland System, she assumes the clan identity of her new husband. If she marries outside the Highland System, she retains the clan identity she was born with and passes it on to her children.


Mom was a Scot, Dad wasn't so I belong to my Mother's Clan despite bearing my Father's surname, which is customary in the U.S.A. Therefore my son also belongs to my Mother's Clan and will pass it on to his children as defined above.

[Gael Ridire]

Wow, this thread has been fascinating to follow! I've struggled with this concept for all of my 22 years of wearing a kilt. Jock Scot has given me much to think about here and in other posts. So has MacMillan of Rathdowne.

First to Southern Celt - My son is soon to marry a fine young lady who is a quarter Scottish, a quarter Spanish, and half Jewish. She thinks and calls herself a Jew. But she is wrong. She might be a blood Jew, but not a birthright Jew. Hebrews and Picts are a Matriarchal lineage. Since her father is a Galician (a small country that was broken up after WWI into Slovakia, Poland, & Ukraine) Jew, she isn't a Jew at all as far as a practicing Jew is concerned. So does a Scots woman who marries out of the clan pass her birthright on to her son, I don't know?

I empathize with Rondo and his view, I'd say he was seeing from "Cowboy diplomacy," and that's okay with me, cause I tend to view things or have attitude from that point too.

My grandfather wanted to be a cowboy, period! Hated it when my grandmother smacked his huge Pallimeno horse alongside the head as it was going to kill my father who was a toddler playing in the yard. I tend not dress like a cowboy although I live amongst them.

22 years ago I was on the tail end of researching my family history (all lines), when assigned to cover a Scottish festival. It was if I had come home. I battled on picking a clan, right then and there I chose Clan Gunn, only because they were the only clan represented there in my lineage. But two years later changed to clan Kennedy. Why? My Gunn lineage came to US in 1648!, the first Scot line I could trace to Scotland was Kennedy from Ayrshire. Have Scots on either side of the family. To them I associated with for over ten years until the chief died, then a couple years later the US chief died and ugly politics took over. During this time spent five years on the state Scottish Association board of directors. Then came the next millennium and a national Boy Scout jamboree held locally the same weekend as the state games of which I gripped big time about but took my family to the four day event. And have never worn my kilt since or attended the festival. Why? It now cost to much and my family didn't care.

Scott MacMillan makes an excellent point about serving two masters, and in this again I struggle. The state I live in has the lowest percentage of Irish in the US, but a very active Scottish association. My thoughts kept getting hung up with the fact that my surname was Irish, and we have a bonnefide recognized chief, but after 12 years he has no interest in the clan society. But I still have this burning desire to celebrate my Celtic/Gaelic heritage. So once again the dilemma of choosing a clan: Gunn, Kennedy, Scott, Kerr, Robertson, MacNeil, MacPhie, Douglas, Stuart, Dunbar, MacLean, or Strachan, and I love my Irish heritage & clan. Unfortunately to some of you I'm committing a wrong by combining my Irish & Scottish. When I strapped on the kilt I feel connected to my lineage, so I've chosen the Irish National Tartan. 1) To honor my Irish heritage, 2) it's tartan and thus honor to my Scottish heritage who came up with weaving tartan and wearing the kilt, 3) okay so the Irish didn't historically wear the kilt in tartan or solid colors, but the Gaelic League in 1888 or so chose the clothing a a way to make a statement to London of nationalism. I like that the Cornish adopted the kilt to make a statement to the world that they are Celts not English. The world associates the kilt not only with the Scots, but with the Celts too. Personally I hate divisions in the Celt/Gaelic world, so let there be the various tartans to the Scots, the six or so national or district tartans to the Cornish & Welsh, & Ireland, but perhaps a couple of district tartans each for the four provinces of Ireland. Common on, what's four more to the 3200 or so that already exist.

At first I didn't like the modern utility kilts & such. It bucked tradition! But now I've warmed up to the idea, even thinking of wearing them myself. To me it is the evolution of the culture. Just as art & music of the culture is continuing to evolve. Some I will like, some I will not, some I won't care.

Sorry for the mix up, I'll probably have some screwy grandchildren who won't know there history well, but by gosh they'll look good in their ignorance! And some kid who has just moved here from the east coast is going to accuse them of "Cowboy attitude!"